Multiple Users accessing MyDSL

Forum: Other Help Topics
Topic: Multiple Users accessing MyDSL
started by: atomicant

Posted by atomicant on Oct. 25 2007,18:15

I'm a newbie. I got DSL set up on my computer and the more I learn the happier I am with it. So I was showing my son some of the differences between Linus and Windows. I set him up as a user, but when he tries to download from MyDSL, he can't. "Non DSL user error". I've traced to his user not being DSL, which was the whole point, to give him his own "space". Did I not set something up right? Can this be fixed/worked around?

Posted by mikshaw on Oct. 25 2007,20:07

MyDSL extensions were designed with user dsl in mind from the start, meaning that all user-specific files (personal configs, menu items, icons) are installed into this user's home directory. Several people tried installing them as root and ended up breaking parts of their systems when ownership of those files was then transferred to root. Rather than rewrite the myDSL system, it was apparently decided simply to prevent other users from using it.

You could probably modify mydsl-load, and change the part that checks if the user is dsl to just checking that the user isn't root. This should allow a non-root, non-dsl user to install apps, although not without error messages (can't write menu/icon files).

There's likely at least one better alternative than that, but I can't think what it would be right now.

Posted by roberts on Oct. 30 2007,20:25

MyDSL extensions where designed to give the liveCD, or frugal (basically a single user system) an equal access to installing software as a traditional hard drive installed system which would typically use the Debian package manager.

Because MyDSL is so easy to install, this has led many users to try to use it on a tradtional hard drive installed system.

DSL being designed as a liveCD, frugal, nomadic system and core system applications of xtdesk and the menu systems of jwm and fluxbox made it difficult to factor out user DSL. Of course if everything ran as root it would be easy. But higher principles prevail.

However, with v4.0 I now have a combination of core system applications on which to attempt supporting different user. Both wm now support includes which means mydsl menus do not have to be located in /home/dsl. The new icon/file manager does not place icons in /home/dsl either. With all this in v4.0 I will be looking to support non-DSL user(s) perhaps as soon as 4.1.